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Continuous measurement of aircraft wing icingIce formation on the wings of aircraft is a problem that has plagued air travel since its inception. Several recent incidents have been attributed to ice formation on the lifting surfaces of wings. This paper describes a SBIR Phase 1 research effort on the use of small flat dielectric sensors in detecting a layer of ice above the sensor. The sensors are very small, lightweight, and inexpensive. The electronics package that controls the sensor is also small, and could be even smaller using commonly available miniaturization technologies. Thus, several sensors could be placed on a surface such that a representative ice thickness profile could be measured. The benefits offered by developing this technology go beyond the safety improvements realized by monitoring ice formation on the wings of an aircraft. Continuous monitoring of anti-icing fluid concentrations on the ground would warn the pilot of impending fluid failure as well as allowing the stations to use less de-icing solution per aircraft. This in turn would increase the safety of takeoffs and reduce the overall discharge of de-icing solution into the environment, thus reducing the biohazard of the de-icing procedure.
Document ID
19940027948
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Yao, Stephen S. C.
(Axiomatics Corp. Woburn, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Washington, Technology 2003: The Fourth National Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition, Volume 2
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Accession Number
94N32454
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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